16 - Bishop Edmund Griffith's articles for Bangor diocese, 1634

Summary

Articles to be enquired of within the diocesse of Bangor, in the first visitation, of the right reverend father in God, Edmund Lord Bishop of Bangor.

[Concerning the clergy.]

1. Doth your minister use to pray for the kings maiestie, King Charles, and for the queenes maiestie, Prince Charles, and all the royall progeny, with addition of all such stile, and titles as are due to his highnesse; and exhort the people to obedience, to his maiestie and all magistrates in authority under him: and doeth hee also pray for all arch-bishops, bishops, and other ecclesiasticall persons.

2. Whether is the prescript forme of divine service, used by your minister upon Sundayes, holy dayes, and other dayes appointed by the booke of common prayer at fit and usuali houres? And whether doth your minister duely observe all the orders, rites and ceremonies prescribed in the said booke of common prayer, without omission or addition, as well in reading publique prayers and the letany, as alsо in administring the sacraments in such manner and forme, as by the law not established is ioyned?

3. Whether doth your minister administer the holy communion so often, and at such times, as that every parishioner may receive the same once every moneth, or at least thrice every yeere, whereof once at Easter, and administreth the same to none, but to such as kneele at the receiving thereof, and whether doth hee cause sufficient warning thereof, to bee given before?

4. Whether hath your minister reiected any from the communion, who were not by publique presentment, or other open scandali, infamous and detected of some notorious crime, by common fame, or vehement suspition knowne in the parish?

5. Whether hath your minister received people of other parishes to his church, to the common and divine service? And whether his parishioners have gone to other churches and places, to heare service, or receive the sacrament, and whether hee and the church-wardens have presented such as have not received the Lords supper the last Easter?

6. Whether is your minister continually resident with you upon his benefice? Or for how long time hath hee beene absent? And where is hee resident for the most part, and what other benefice hath he? And doth hee in his absence make allowance for the poore, and what?